Re: Map shape text to custom property?

From: Mark Nelson [MS] (marknel_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/05/05 

Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 22:01:10 -0800

Using the Space Plan template and shapes, you can create a floor plan linked
to a database. Generally you use the CAD drawing as a background image and
drop Space shapes on top for each room. The Space shapes can be linked to
data using the Import Data Wizard. Go to Tools > Addons > Run Addon to find
the Import Data Wizard. 

-- 
Mark Nelson
Microsoft Corporation
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"Richard Patterson" <Richard Patterson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in 
message news:5719F304-E978-43AD-9276-9828CF03C39F@microsoft.com...
> Can this technique be used for an existing floor plan drawing?  I have a
> floor plan that was drawn with a CAD.  I would like to link the rooms in 
> the
> drawing to information that I have in a database.
>
> "Mark Nelson [MS]" wrote:
>
>> If I understand correctly, you want a shape that can push its text to a
>> custom property when it is created, but then you want the custom property 
>> to
>> drive the text from there on out.  If you want to go both ways, I believe
>> you'll need to write code to keep things in sync.
>>
>> If you want the custom property to always refer to shape text, you 
>> already
>> figured out the formula to put in the custom property cell.  If you want 
>> the
>> shape text to always refer to the custom property, go to Insert > Field 
>> to
>> set up that relationship.
>>
>> -- 
>> Mark Nelson
>> Microsoft Corporation
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no 
>> rights.
>>
>> "HLM" <HLM@no-email.com> wrote in message
>> news:eqj4vKsuEHA.3828@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> > LOL - ok, I will since I see there's someone that would read it and 
>> > maybe
>> > comment on my solution.
>> >
>> > What I've done, in Visio Pro 2003, is copied a server shape from the 
>> > rack
>> > stencil into my own stencil so I can modify it.  I then placed the 
>> > server
>> > shape on a drawing, added a couple custom properties to the shape such 
>> > as
>> > "ServerName", and ran the database wizard to connect this shape to an
>> > access database.  I had to create the ODBC DSN and the access database 
>> > via
>> > this wizard.  Once I completed the wizard I opened the shape*** for 
>> > the
>> > shape and modified the value for the custom property I wanted to "tie" 
>> > to
>> > the shape's text to be "=GUARD(SHAPETEXT(TheText))"  (minus the 
>> > quotes.)
>> > and then I made sure the custom property I assigned to be the index or 
>> > KEY
>> > in the database had no value.
>> >
>> > I then dragged the shape back to the stencil and saved it as a new 
>> > master.
>> > Now, when I drag this shape onto a drawing, I am prompted to enter a 
>> > value
>> > for the index property (the KEY field in the database).  After I enter 
>> > the
>> > value the shape is dropped on the drawing.  When I double-click the 
>> > shape
>> > I get the textbox edit field and the custom property page pops open. 
>> > As I
>> > type the text into the shapes textbox I can see the custom property I
>> > "tied" it to update as I type.  Since I used the "GUARD" function in 
>> > the
>> > value on the shape*** the shape is not allowed to change this value 
>> > to
>> > anything else.  It is forced to be the value of the shapes text no 
>> > matter.
>> > However, once the shape is synched to the database, the actual value is
>> > stored in this property rather than the formula.
>> >
>> > Why did I do this?  I wanted to be able to place a new server in a 
>> > rack,
>> > have it automatically tied to my server database and have it's name
>> > displayed as the default shape text on my drawing.  This is only good 
>> > for
>> > placing a new shape on the drawing too since once the shape is synched
>> > with the database the value for this property will be the real value,
>> > rather than the initial formula.
>> >
>> > I haven't worked out the details yet, but I think I'll have one shape 
>> > for
>> > adding a brand new server to my drawing which is tied in this way so I 
>> > can
>> > more easily add the server's name to a new shape and database record.
>> > Then create a copy of the shape for adding a server to the drawing that
>> > already has an entry in my server database.  This copy would be 
>> > configured
>> > to grab the server name from the database and update the shape's text 
>> > with
>> > this value as it is dropped onto the drawing.
>> >
>> > Really just did this as a learning experience as I embark on building a
>> > "smart" visio drawing of all our rack elevation diagrams which is tied 
>> > to
>> > a server configuration database.  Hopefully, I can have a floor plan of
>> > our server room, click on a particular rack and have that rack's 
>> > elevation
>> > diagram open up.  Then one step further, a click on a particular server
>> > will bring up all it's pertinent information for review and or
>> > modification.
>> >
>> > Ok, now that I've typed this all out can someone tell me the 
>> > "two-click"
>> > method to do all this  :]
>> >
>> > Huey
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Maxarian" <Maxarian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:45E98902-C697-435F-A074-DC57E954E905@microsoft.com...
>> >> Please explain in detail?
>> >>
>> >> "HLM" wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Aahh,  just had to make sure the custom property used for the KEY in 
>> >>> the
>> >>> database was empty and then make the value for the property I wanted 
>> >>> to
>> >>> save
>> >>> the shape text in:
>> >>> =SHAPETEXT(theText)
>> >>>
>> >>> Saved the master shape and now when I drag it over to my drawing I am
>> >>> prompted for a KEY value and then when I double click the shape I 
>> >>> type
>> >>> the
>> >>> text and the custom property updates as I type.  waaay cool....
>> >>>
>> >>> If any of this drivvle inerests anyone just post a reply, I'll give 
>> >>> more
>> >>> details.
>> >>>
>> >>> Huey
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> "HLM" <HLM@no-email.com> wrote in message
>> >>> news:uuPaI1duEHA.1132@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> >>> >
>> >>> > Any quick answers?  also want to link this to a database field. I 
>> >>> > have
>> >>> > the
>> >>> > link for a custom property working like a champ, but I want the
>> >>> > default
>> >>> > text property to reflect the value in a custom property.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > help?
>> >>> >
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>